Motorsport: F1 drivers to discuss qualifying changes with teams

NUERBURGRING, Germany - Red Bull's David Coulthard will meet team bosses before next week's Spanish Grand Prix to discuss proposed changes to the qualifying format.

Australian Mark Webber told Reuters that the Scot, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) that represents most of the starting grid, would attend a meeting in Barcelona on Thursday.

Several drivers and teams want to tweak the final 20-minute session of next weekend's three-part qualifying.

At present the 10 drivers who get through the first two stages must start the race with whatever fuel load they had at the beginning of the final qualifying session.

That has led to drivers spending much of the session simply burning off the fuel at reduced speeds before putting in their quick laps at the end.

"We have thought about it, to offer some advice to the (International Automobile Federation) FIA to improve the schedule," Toyota's Italian driver Jarno Trulli told reporters at the European Grand Prix today.

"We feel it is not good enough now. The drivers all feel the same about it." Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport that changes could be made if teams agreed unanimously.

All 10 drivers could for example declare before the start of the final session what fuel load they would be starting the race with. They could then empty the tanks for qualifying.

"We can have these 10 drivers going out one at a time for a single flying lap like last year," said Ecclestone. "If all the teams agree, it can be done from the next grand prix." While Webber said he did not think all the drivers were in favour of a change, he was happy to go along with whatever was decided.

"I think we should leave it (as it is). Everyone's used to the system now. I'm sure if they (FIA) want to change it, they will. If they don't, they won't," he said.

- REUTERS